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Pulmonology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Don't Forget: 31622 Includes Cell Washing

Published on Fri Jan 28, 2011

Question: My pulmonologist performed a bronchoscopy, wash, brush, and multiple tracheal aspiration biopsies. What codes should I use to report the service?Answer: You can report multiple procedures when performed at the same session when appropriately documented. You would report the procedure above with the following codes: 31629 for the needle aspiration biopsies of the trachea. Report this code only once since the biopsies came from one anatomical location31623 for the brushings.Washings do not get reported separately. They are considered part of the base procedure (31622, Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; diagnostic, with cell washing, when performed [separate procedure]), which is not reported with any other bronchoscopy code when performed and reported on the same day.
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